First Haircut and Duckies

So we did really get Mateo's haircut for the first time just before we went to see Papa. He had been to visit his Silverton godfather Josiah who had given us a really hard time about the fact that his godson had more than 5 inches of hair on top! So we had a little bonding experience...Mom got hers cut, then Mateo got his cut. He did great for about the first half and then he got squirrely...thank goodness Kari is patient and quick!!

Matt took the other picture of his two favorite people in ducky jammies...the PJs are courtesy of Tia Pamela...Sarah's are from Ross and Mateo's are a Pamela original. There are very few feelings better than having your son nestle into your chest...it was the best Christmas present I got this year!!

Love from Oregon...Sarah

Christmas pictures...finally

So we are finally getting around to posting Christmas pictures. Tia Pamela made Mateo a jacket and matching hat from some Guatemalan fabric we brought back. The best feature is that it has room to grow into!

We had a great time at Grammy & Papa's visiting with cousins Lukas and Nathan...spending quality time with Tio Joe...getting presents from Tia Rachel & Tio John...we even got a chance to meet Great Grandma & Grandpa Britschgi. We were able to take a family picture...and have lots of lap time with Grammy & Papa. Mateo wants to know when you are going to come for another visit!!

Uncle Joe gave the best Christmas present (a set of musical instruments) that Mateo uses to drive Mom and Dad a bit looney...unless Dad is playing back-up drummer on the drum that MamaNona gave him. Matt assures me this is just the beginning of payback presents from his friends and family!

We are hunkered down at home trying to get into a routine that includes Mateo sleeping in his crib in his room...to give Mom and Dad some rest and romance! :)

Love to you all...the Millers

Book Club Christmas

We had a great time at book club Christmas...Aunt Patty made "I Love Bookclub" shirts for the bookclub mascots...Ellie, Cole, and Mateo. And Marnie hosted the pre-dinner reception at her house. We were back the next night for an Italian feast that Marnie and I made. And most importantly, we set dates for our Italy 2008 trip. We will be at a villa in Tuscany for a week in June, and then people will add on side trips as they want to. The group voted that Jim & Marnie and Matt & me should be the planners as we have both spent time in Italy before. Matt & I honeymooned there...and Jim and Marnie visited for a pre-kid trip. We have talked about it for a long time, and now it is becoming a reality. How lucky are we to have such good friends to spend such a great time together. I am certainly blessed!

Let there be cake!!

Mateo had a great first birthday party...he got to hang out with the book club girls, who outfitted him with stylish clothes and with some good books. Aunt Rachel & Uncle John hooked him up with a Tupperware Shape Ball and a Fisher-Price Farm set-up. And his Silverton party had all our close friends who helped him open presents...and they even got treat bags to boot!

Mateo used his birthday as training grounds for learning how to open presents...a skill which he has mastered now after many weeks of present opening! Mom and Dad are a bit overwhelmed though...seems like there are WAY TOO MANY toys now. Perhaps we will have to celebrate half-birthdays instead.

Anyway, thought you would enjoy the cake eating pictures...he had it everywhere...we even found some in his ear the next morning!

Hugs from Oregon...Sarah

Mateo's birthday is coming...

HI friends,

Sorry it has been so long since our last post. I don't have a good excuse...it's just been a crazy three weeks! We're off to Boise tomorrow to have Book Club Christmas to begin planning our big excursion to Italy in June 2008.

Mateo finally recovered from his gastric issues, so we have begun the treatment for the TB exposure. Now of course, he has another cold in his chest, but he likes taking "Little Bits" (i.e. Triaminic or Baby Tylenol).

It seems so crazy that he turns one on Friday...in the past few weeks, he is totally walking all over the place...we used to have 1-3 minutes to react when we set him down...now if we aren't careful, in 10 seconds he is in the next room digging in the pots & pans drawer.

We finally got our tree up last weekend, just in time for our annual Christmas party! We had a great time surrounded by our friends and family kicking off our holiday season.

More pictures from the various birthday celebrations this week...hope all is well. Love you and miss you, Sarah & Matt & Mateo